Over 130 Drivers Ticketed for Failing to Stop as Metro Officer Tests Crosswalk Law

Even though the police officer in a big red heart costume stood out as he crossed the street, more than 130 drivers were pulled over for not stopping to let him cross at a marked crossing.

People were told to pay more attention to pedestrians as part of a safety program. Police say that Clark County has already had a very dangerous year. In the first six weeks of the year, two walkers were killed on average every week.

On Tuesday, police from the Clark County School District, North Las Vegas, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police all worked together for four hours to warn drivers to be careful around people walking and crosswalks. This happens a few times a year.

The officer, who was dressed as a big heart, used the crosswalk on Rainbow Boulevard and Dewey Drive several times while motorcycle cops waited nearby to catch cars who didn’t stop.

136 drivers were pulled over and given tickets for either not giving way to a pedestrian in a crossing or going around a car that was stopped at a crosswalk to let a pedestrian go first.

The Clark County School District Police Department said on Facebook, “If you can’t see one of our costumed officers, you won’t see one of the kids on their way to and from school.”

Police in the CCSD say that 14 pedestrians have died so far this year and that 85 kids were hit by cars on their way to or from school.

Police say that drivers going 30 mph or faster probably won’t see walkers unless they are looking for them. When going faster, the risks get even worse.

The annual Have a Heart, Stop for Pedestrians campaign said in a news release that a person hit by a 45-mph car has a 90% chance of not living.

This is what the ad says drivers should do:

If you’re going faster than 15 miles per hour, you will have to look to the right and left to see people walking. They won’t be in your line of sight.

Look the person in the street in the eye and let them know you saw them.

It is against the law to pass another car in a school zone or crossing zone, even if the driver behind you is going at the fastest speed. When people are walking in any of the lanes of traffic going in the direction the driver wants to go, they can’t turn right or left.

Police in CCSD said, “Please SLOW DOWN and watch out for those pedestrians.”